American Association of Colleges and Universities

09/08/2026

College athletics is at a crossroads. Could that create an opportunity to rethink its role in higher education?

In the new issue of "Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning," Jonathan R. Alger, inaugural AAC&U/ACE America 250 Fellow, makes the case for recognizing high-level athletic participation as a powerful form of learning—one that develops leadership, teamwork, resilience, problem solving, and other capacities with value far beyond competition.

What would it mean to place athletics more firmly within the educational mission—and even recognize sports performance as a legitimate field of academic study?

Read the article: https://bit.ly/4ywR5db

09/08/2026

Meaningful virtual exchange doesn't happen by accident. It begins with intentional course design that helps students build curiosity, empathy, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to collaborate across cultures.

Join AAC&U for the free webinar “The Science of Connection: Designing Meaningful Virtual Exchange.” Discover research-informed approaches to designing VE/COIL experiences that deepen student engagement while keeping human connection at the center of digital learning.

Register: https://bit.ly/4gZ7UGD

09/08/2026

Over the past few decades, European researchers have gone beyond poll numbers to consider what “trust in education” actually means. AAC&U Senior Research Fellow Elizabeth Quay Hutchison dives into the research for AAC&U’s “APT Words” Substack. Hutchison’s analysis examines what US higher education leaders and policymakers can learn from the insights and offers recommendations for how we can deepen our understanding of what drives public trust in US higher education.

Read more on Substack: https://bit.ly/3UiuNNy

European trust scholars have a lot to say on the subject.

09/04/2026

Preparing students for the age of AI requires more than teaching new tools. It requires critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication, and the ability to solve problems. Join AAC&U and Instructure for a free sponsored webinar exploring this and more: https://bit.ly/4quudrP

09/04/2026

AAC&U’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education and the Sustained Dialogue Institute combined forces to help educators navigate chilling, threatening, uncertain, and politicized pressure in their teaching, research, and work on campuses. Contact us for free, confidential support. aacu.org/helpdesk

09/03/2026

Assessment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Learn to adapt AAC&U’s VALUE rubrics for your context. aacu.org/hacking

09/03/2026

Every leader faces difficult conversations, competing priorities, and change. The question is how to navigate them effectively.

During "Leadership Week," you'll hear research-informed insights, real-world examples, and practical strategies for building stronger teams, supporting effective shared governance, and leading with confidence.

Registration is free. Learn more: aacu.org/leadership-week

09/02/2026

As AI adoption accelerates, institutions are navigating evolving questions related to governance, ethics, academic integrity, and policy development.

The AAC&U Conference on AI and Higher Education provides space for collaborative dialogue and practical strategy-building at this critical moment.

Learn more and register: aacu.org/aiconference

09/02/2026

How can authentic assessment strengthen teaching, learning, and institutional improvement?

Join AAC&U for VALUE Week, September 14–17, a series of four free webinars exploring practical applications of AAC&U’s VALUE rubrics and resources. You’ll learn about how VALUE rubrics can help you design assignments aligned with learning outcomes and how to implement the rubrics within different institutional contexts.

Whether you’re new to VALUE or looking to strengthen an existing assessment initiative, you’ll leave with ideas and strategies you can adapt for your own campus.

Learn more and register: aacu.org/value-week

09/01/2026

“Open Educational Resources: A New High-Impact Practice,” a recent research report from AAC&U, is among the most comprehensive examinations of open educational resource implementation conducted to date. The findings support recognition of OER implementation as a high-impact practice, with benefits extending beyond affordability to student engagement, persistence, and success.

Read the report: aacu.org/oer-report